Ledger



July 16, 1940 c. R. LIVERMON LEDGER HOLDER Filed Feb.. 4, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 15, 1940- I I c. R. LIVERMON 2, 08, 62

LEDGER HOLDER Filed Feb. 4, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 16, 1940.

C. R. LIVERMON LEDGER HOLDER Filed Feb.

4, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 16, 1940 PATENT OFFICE LEDGER HOLDER Carl R. Livermon, Roxobel, N. C. Application Feb'ruary4, 1938, serial No. 188,789

10 Claims.

, ,This invention relates to improvements in open book holders, its underlying purpose being to hold the pages of a ledger'in an open position so as to facilitate the work of the bookkeeper, accountant, or other person having to inspect the book, in a manner more fully explained below.

Itwill be understood from the foregoing statement that the holder is especially designed for a ledger. The particular ledger herein mind happens to be a large book, one'inwhich the page-spread is so broad when the book is open as tom'ake it inconvenient and even di'ificult for the bookkeeper to trace notations across the pages in line with a given name. To facilitate the latter purpose, use is made of a straightedge and then to make it"possible to use the straight edge with the utmost convenience the holder has embodied in its presser means which level off the pages in such a manner as to make them almost perfectly flat.

With this preamble in mind, the objects of the invention are as follow:

First, to provide a holder for an open book, said holder embodying presser means for putting pressure upon the book in such a way as to level the top pages. Second, to provide an open book holder wherein, the pressure means lifts the book against relatively fixed ledges at the top and bottom book margins, thereby to level off or flatten the top pages so as to produce a virtually plane top surface across which a straight-edge can be moved up and down to enable the bookkeeper to follow all of the notations accompanying a given name. I

Third, to provide presser means for the foregoing purpose which is adaptableto any ordinary differences in the page thicknesses on he left and right sides of an open book, and evenadaptable Other objects and advantages will appear in ,the' following specification, reference being had to m ge mv eriee Fra es in t I to any possible unevenness in the page thick- Figure 1 is a plan view of the carrier portion of the ledger holder.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the carrier, from which the upper and lower ledges are omitted, parts being shown in section. p I Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the adjustable upper ledge.

' Figure 4 is a plan View of the complete ledger holder. I Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Q Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2..

Figure '7 is a cross "l-l of Fig. 2.

Figure 8 is a detail cross section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Figure 10 is "a fractional plan view of the carrier illustrating a modified type of presser.

Figure 11 is a section taken on the line ll-Il 'Figure'12 is a section taken on the line lZ-IZ of Fig. 10. 25 Figure 13 is "a cross section taken on the line I3-l3 of Fig. 10.

Reference is first made to Figs. 1 311(14; The ledger shown here is generally designated 1. It comprises the backs 2, 3, and when the ledger is open (Fig. 9) there are stacks of pages 4,5 on the left and right sides. These pages have horizontal rulings 6 (Figs. 1 and 4) and vertical rulings 1 which divide the pages into columns. These columns are used for any-desired notations, for example, reading from left to right, Dates, Names, Check Numbers, Cash Sales, and so on, ending up with such notations as Dealer's Commission, Debit Purchases and Credits.

In actual practice the ledger l is a large book, especially when devoted to bookkeeping purposes relating to the peanut picker business. When the bookkeeper has occasion to consult this ledger, considerable difficulty is experienced in tracing out the various notations on a straight line across from a given name. This difficulty comes not only from the broad expanse of the book, but also from the fact that when the book is laid open upon a table, the pages naturally are bowed up in the middle, necessitating the bookkeepers using one hand to flatten them down so as to ease his or her efforts inovercoming the difficulty of tracing the notations across.

: These purposes-are greatly facilitated byinsertingthe ledger in the improved holder. Ref- 5 section taken on the line section taken on the ignated erence is 'now made to Figs. 4 and 5. Any ordinary table 8 has twin stands 9 screwed down upon it at I0, these stands having a hinge connection, consisting of a long pin II, with brackets I2 which have tracks I3 suitably secured to them. The pin II has a spanner tube I4 emplaced upon it so as tomaintain the proper spacing of the brackets I2, and also to enable the tightening of a Wing nut I5 011 the threaded end of the pin.

This wing nut provides for the adjustment of I the position of the carrier which is presently described. The latter can be set either level (full lines, Fig. 5) or in a tilted position (dotted lines) The tracks I3 carry cleats I6 which are secured. at I! to the end legs I8 on the underside of the previously mentioned carrier, now generally des- I9. The track arrangement enables shifting the carrier I9 back and forth in respect to the table 8, so that persons in different locations at thetable' may be able to consult the ledger without arising from their chairs, further,'to enable the bookkeeper to slide the carrier back and forth to bring the 'remote'portions of the ledger within .easy'eye sight range.

"The carrier'IS comprises what is conveniently called a nether foundation (Figs. 2 and 6). In theillustration this comprises a panel but in actual practice every purpose that it has can be served by substituting an appropriate number oflongitudin'alrods. The .panel 20 is provided with openings 2|, 22 (Fig. 2). These are provided in sets of equal numbers on the sides of the holder I9 to the left and right of the center line 23 (Fig. 2). The set of openings at the left is not shown because the panel is broken off. .The upper pair of openings 2| is longer than the lower pair 22,. the reason for the excess length being provision for the adjustment of the presser feet.

The foregoing nether foundation is marginally framed by top and bottom bars 24, 25. and side bars26. This marginal frame has the nether foundation secured to it; whether in the form of the panel shown or of the rods mentioned. The 'top' bar 24' has openings 21', each opening providing the room necessary for the'movement of a. handle '28 projecting from an eccentric 29 j which is pivoted at 30 to the nether foundation 20. The purpose of the eccentric 29 is to shove the respective side of the book downwards when the handle 28 is moved in the proper direction. In the bottom bar 25 there are" several recesses 3I which have inclined bottoms 32. Blocks 33 occupy the recesses being provided with corresponding inclined bottoms 34. Each block is shorter thanthe respective recess, making room for the riding of the block up the inclined plane.

The resulting projection of the blocks out of the recesses determines the place where the respective book backs 2, 3 shall rest. These blocks comprise'lev'eling means which serve to line up the bottom ruling 35 (Fig. 1) with the inner edge of the lower ledge presently described.

Each block'33 has a pin 35 working in a slot I 36 in the bar 35 projecting therefrom and be The side bars 26 have slots Fig. 2). These slots go clear through the foundation panel 20. The sides of the bars 26 are faced with ledges 4i which'provide guides for the straight-edge for which purpose .the ledge is projected above the side bars (Fig. 9). The slots 40 have conveniently numbered marks 42 which facilitate the adjustment of the upper ledge 43.

This ledge is fairly broad (Fig. 3). It has end members 44 which, together with the extreme end parts of the upper ledge, ride upon the side bars 26. A bolt 45 has its head set flush with the top of each end member 44 (Figs. 3 and 5) then projects down through the respective slot 40 to a point beneath the foundation panel where it carries a wing nut 46. The wing nuts are loosened to enable adjustment of the upper ledge 43 in accordance with the markings 42, to suit the height of the particular ledger I used in conjunction with the carrier.

Screw eyes 41, or their equivalents, are attached to the upper ledge 43. The innermost edges of the ledge and end members 44 are bevelled at 48, 49 (Figs. 3 and'5'). The lower ledge 56 is permanently secured to the bottom bar 25. The available book space 51 beneath'it (Fig. 6) is less than the available book space 52 beneath the upper ledge 43. The reason for this disparity in space is .to enable the ledger I first'to be inserted upper and foremost into the space 52 (Fig. 6) then laid down into the cavity of the carrier I9 and last slid into the book space 5I under the lower ledge 50. When this isaccomplished there is still enough of the book under the upper ledge 43 to enable the adequate performance of the presser means.

The lower ledge 56 is cut out at 53 (Fig. 1) to provide hand openings. These enable the bookkeeper both to insert and remove the ledger. The latter is adjusted by cleats 54 (Fig. 1), the purpose of which is to properly set different lengths of ledgers with respect to the indicia strip, so that the indicia will line up with the various vertical columns of the ledger.

When the ledger I is first laid open, its pages bow' up somewhat onthe order of the dotted lines 55 in Fig. 9. It isreadily seen that the notations are hard to follow across the pages v as long as they are left in that position. .The

presser means which levels the top pages (Fig. 9) comprises duplicate structures on each side of the center line 23 (Fig. 2) the numerals applied to the structure on the left being duplicated on the structure at the right without further explanation.

The presser means is generally designated 56. It consists of a rigid frame 51 in the form of an H. This form is not intended to be a restriction on the shape of the frame because it will work just as well if it is made in the shape of 'an X. The bottom terminals of the frame have integral upstanding presser feet 58 which work in the lower panel openings 2'2. The upper extremities of the frame elidably carry the bases 59 of the upper presser feet 60 which work in the upper openings 2 I. The bases 59 are notched on the sides at 6| to contain the prongs '62 (Fig. 9) of fork members63 which project downward from the upper ledge 43 to which they are permanently secured at 64 (Fig. 6). adjustment of the upper ledge 43 is made,'there will be a corresponding adjustment of the press er feet 5!]. The innermost faces 65, '66 (Fig. 6) are in registration (or substantially so) with the innermost edges 61, '68 of the lower and upper When any ledges 50, 43. This relationship of the presser feet and upper ledge 43 is preserved throughout the foregoing adjustment so that there is never any change in the relative places where the presser feet engage the book backs when the pressing function is performed.

' For this purpose frame 51 is carried by a bell crank 99 which is pivoted at to a bracket H which depends from the foundation panel 20 (Fig. '7). The extremity of the long arm of the bell crank is curled at 12 around a cylindrical pin 13 into which the center of the cross bar of the frame is formed. The entire frame 51 is preferably made of cross sectionally square stock. Since the openings in the bases 59 are correspondingly shaped, it follows that the presser feet 60 cannot turn over. Because of the same configuration the formation of the pin 13 produces shoulders 14 (Fig. 2) which are spaced far enough away from the curl T2 to provide for every possible lateral tilting motion of the frame in respect to the bell crank 09 when the book is pressed upon. The curl I2 is loose upon the pin 13 so that the frame can readily adjust itself as may be needed.

A cam 15 is carried by a shaft 18 (Fig. 7) in an opening of an apron H at the front of the carrier. This shaft has a knob 18 fixed on it. The short arm of the bell crank 69 bears against the rim of the cam (Fig. '7) because of the weightof the frame 51. When the knob and cam are turned in one or the other direction, the corresponding rocking of the bell crank 69 will raise or lower the frame 61, causing its presser feet 58, 80 to elevate the respective side of the book (Fig. 9) pressing its pages up against the ledges 43, 01, until the top surface is made virtually plane, enabling an easy tracing of any notations from one side to the other. It is readily seen that the presser means 50 acts universally, being capable of not only rocking from left to right at its swivel connection 12, 13, but also in up and down directions reading from front to back.

Reference is now made to the straight-edge I9 (Figs. 1 and 4) which is used in tracing the foregoing notations across. This straight-edge embodies any known structure whereby a parallel motion is obtainable. The means herein shown for accomplishing said purpose comprises the cords 80, 8!, which are commonly anchored at 82, then trained through the screw eyes 41, over pulleys 83, crossed at 84, trained over pulleys 85 and again anchored at 86, 81, the anchorage 81 comprising a take-up for reducing any slack in the cords.

The pulleys 83, 85 are carried by the straightedge 19, and because of the fact that any push applied to the straight-edge anywhere along its length will set up corresponding degrees of turning of the pulleys, it follows that the straightedge will always be absolutely parallel to the hulings of the ledger, assuming that the ledger has first been properly levelled by means of the blocks 33.

The one addition to the straight-edge 19 which operatively combines it with the carrier I9 is the indicia strip 88. In practice this socalled strip may or will consist of a plurality of leaves, each of which has different indicia printed upon it. These leaves can either be slipped into guides or turned back on hinge staples. The particular manner of mounting the indicia strip is of little consequence, the main point being that the ,in-

dicia printed upon it matches the information printed Date, Name, Chk. No., Cash Sale, Notes, etc.

Reference is now made to Figs. 10 to 13, which illustrate a modification of the presser means. The structure illustrated in Fig. 10 appears on the right side of the ledger holder, and it is to be understood that the presser means is duplicated on the unshown left side. Those portions of the nether foundation shown in Fig. 10 are designated by numerals corresponding with those in Fig. 2, being distinguished by the exponent letter a. i 1A bracket 89, pendant from the panel 200. (Fig. 13), carries a stud 90 which provides the pivot for a lever 9| which projects beyond the front of the holder (Fig. 10) where it provides a handle 92. The frame 51a is now in the form of a rectangle. The lateral members 93 of this frame connect a pair of bars 94, 95, the undersides of which are formed into oppositely directed cams 96,. 91 (Figs. 11, 12). The frame 51a is supported by the lever 9lat the points 98 where the cam surfaces rest upon it. A turn of the lever will cause the raising or lowering of the frame 51a because of its action upon the cams.

The high ends of the cams 96, 91 terminate at shoulders 99 which provide stops for limiting the turning of the lever 9| in one direction. Each bar 94, 95, has a pair of upstanding presser feet I00, I01, which are the equivalents of the presser feet 60,. 58 (Fig. 2) with the exception that in the modification none of the presser feet is adjustable.

These presser feet occupy openings I02 in the panel a. The latter has recesses I03 (Fig. 11) offset from each of the openings to receive stop lugs I04 which project from the presser feet. The engagement of these lugs with the portions of the panel which bottom the recesses I03 limits the downward motion of the frame 51a.

It is to be understood that the frame 51a is perfectly loose with respect to the lever 9|, just as is the frame 51 in respect to the bell crank 69 in Fig. 2. The main difference between the two forms is that in Fig. 10 the frame 51a is supported by the lever by merely resting on it, whereasin Fig. 2 the frame has a more positive connection with the bell crank at the swivel l2, 13. But in each instance the presser means is universally adaptable to any variation in thickness of the superimposed page stack, and when the lever 91 is moved in the proper direction, its riding motion over the cams 96, 91 raises the frame and causes the feet I00, IM to press the book upwards against the projecting ledges 43a, 500. (Fig. 13)

I claim:

l. .A book holder comprising a carrier, a nether foundation included in the carrier, having a marginal frame defining a receptacle for an open book, parallel fixed ledges projecting tosite portions of the frame so as to overlap said open book, and presser means working up through the nether foundation to raise the book and flatten its pages against the projections of the ledges.

2. A book holder comprising a carrier, a. nether foundation included in the carrier, parallel ledges projecting over the nether foundation to overlap the pages of an open book laid upon said foundation, a presser means operable up through the nether foundation consisting of a frame having a plurality of presser feet to contact the back of the book, and means by which to shift the frame and its feet upwards through ward each other adjacent to and beyond oppo- .60

the foundation to raise the book until the pages are pressed against the ledges.

3.. A book holder comprising a carrier, a nether foundation included in the carrier, parallel ledges projecting over the nether foundation and the pages of an open book laid upon said foundation, and pressermeans operable up I through the nether foundation consisting of a plurality of presser feet, a frame by which the presser feet are carried, and means attached to the nether foundation, being operable with a lever action upon the frame to raise and lower it, thereby to successively press the book pages against and release them from the ledges.

4. A book holder comprising a carrier, a nether foundation included in the carrier, ledges projecting over the pages of an open book laid upon said foundation, and presser means for raising and lowering the book with respect to the ledges, consisting of a plurality of presser feet, a frame by which the presser feet are carried, and .ana-ctuating element upon which the frame is so supported .as to be capable of universal adaptation of the presser feet to the book.

5. A book holder comprising a carrier, a nether foundation included in the carrier, ledges projecting over the pages of an open book laid upon said foundation, a presser means to raise and lower the book into and out of contact with the ledges, consisting of a frame, at least one presser foot integral with a portion of the frame, at least one presser foot having means by which it is adjustablyattached to another portion of the frame, a bell crank having means by which it is pivotally attached to the foundation, means providing a swivel connection between one arm of the bell crank and the frame, and means against which the other arm of the bell crank rests, said means beingmovable to shift the bell crank and thus act upon the frame.

6. .A book holder comprising. a carrier, a nether foundation included in the carrier, a pair of ledges also included in the carrier, both projecting over the pages of an open book laidupon the foundation, one of the ledges being perma-- nently fixed, the other ledge being adjustable, .and presser means with which to raise and lower the book against and away from the ledges, :said means comprising a frame having at least one integral presser foot, at least one presser foot having means slidably connecting it with the frame, means extending from the adjustable ledge into engagement with the slidable presser foot so as to shift said presser foot on the frame when the ledge is adjusted, and a member pivoted to the foundation so as to be movable, said member having a swivel connection with the frame so as to transmit its movement to the presser feet.

7. A book holder comprising a carrier, a nether foundation included in the carrier, a pair of ledges projecting over the pages of an open book laidupon the foundation, one of said ledges being permanently fixed, the other ledge being adjustable in respect to the foundation, a fork member projecting from the adjustable ledge, a presser means with which to raise and lower the book into and out of contact with the ledges, consisting of a frame having at least one cross sectionally non-circular portion and at least one integral presser foot, at least one adjustable presser foot which is slidably mounted upon said non-circular frame portion and has notches occupied by the prongs of the fork member so that adjustments of the respective ledge correspondingly adjust the slidable presser foot, and an actuating member pivoted to the foundation, having a swivel connection to the frame.

8. A book holder comprising a carrier, a nether foundation included in the carrier, a pair of ledges projecting over the pages of an open book L laid upon the foundation, a presser means for raising and lowering the book against and from the ledges consisting of a frame, a plurality of presser feet carried by the frame and working up through the foundation, a, cylindrical pin so formed in the frame as to provide a pair of shoulders, a bell crank and means by which it is pivoted to the foundation, one arm of the bell crank having a portion curled around the pin between the shoulders, a cam against which the other arm of the bell crank rests because of the weight of the frame, and means by which to move the cam so as to manipulate the frame.

9. A book holder comprising a carrier, a nether foundation included in the carrier, ledges projecting over the pages of an open book laid upon the carrier, and presser means to raise and lower the book against and from the ledges, consisting of a frame having a plurality of presser feet working up through the foundation, oppositely directed cams on opposite portions of the frame,

a lever upon which the frame is rested at the cams, and means pivotally connecting the lever to the foundation, thereby supporting the frame in operative relationship to the foundation.

10. A book holder comprising a carrier, a

foundation panel included in the carrier, having openings with offset recesses, ledges projecting over the pages of an open book laid upon the foundation panel over the openings, and presser means to raiseand lower the book against and from the ledges, consisting of a frame under the panel, a plurality of presser feet upstanding on the frame projecting through the openings and having stop lugs adapted to occupy the recesses,

opposite portions of said frame having oppo- 

